K-8 Books to Spark a Lifelong Passion for CS Learning

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code 

Laurie Wallmark | Grade K-3

What better way to celebrate CS Ed Week than by reading a book about the ground-breaking woman who inspired this annual celebration!

This beautifully-illustrated picture book for K-3 readers offers a peek into Grace Hopper’s remarkable life, from her childhood tinkering with clocks to her long career as a software engineer in the US Navy – including her work on one of the first modern computers, the Mark I. 

The author has also created a curriculum guide and discussion guide for this book, making it a perfect focal point for a unit or one-off lesson on the history of computer science.

How to Code a Sandcastle

Josh Funk | Grade K-3

Written in partnership with the nonprofit Girls Who Code, this lively and brightly-illustrated picture book introduces young readers to computer science concepts through Pearl and her robot friend Pascal.

In particular, this book’s relatable situations effectively illustrate coding fundamentals like sequences and loops while also celebrating problem-solving and the power of breaking down challenges into smaller, more manageable steps.

Coding to Kindness

Valerie Sousa & Jen Leban | Grade K-3

Welding together coding and social-emotional learning, this picture book is a perfect read for demonstrating how students can overcome personal differences as they learn and grow.

Students don’t just have to sit and listen to this book, either, because it features interactive segments that get young minds thinking about basic computational skills.Our own Jen Leban contributed her creativity and illustrations to this book, too, and even featured herself reading it aloud on her YouTube channel.

Girls Who Code Series

Various Authors | Grade 3-6

Perfect for fans of the timeless Baby-Sitters Club series, all four books in this chapter book series focus on a group of girls and the ways they use their coding skills (and friendship) to overcome their challenges.

Each book also offers spot-on inspiration for how students can put their new-found coding skills into practice, including to start a coding club, run a hackathon, or coordinate lights and music for a school dance.

Emmy in the Key of Code

Aimee Lucido | Grade 5-8

Coding and music take center stage in this unique middle school novel that follows 12-year old Emmy as she adjusts to a new school and a new city. Her outlook brightens when she makes her first friend in coding club, where they bond over their shared passion for music.

Through its characters and its central conflict, this book shows how coding and CS learning can crossover with other subject areas. In turn, this book is perfect for students who already have a love for the humanities and want to grow their interest in scientific pursuits.